Signaling device



April 7, 1942. R, w, suNDlus 2,279,077

- SIGNALING DEVICE v I Filed March 18, 1940 Q I a2 is 4 l 2o 6 23 14 Y J I,

v 27 /3 I If fiMer/A/Sakd/as mwayza Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert William Sundius, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 18, 1940, Serial No. 324,673

1 Claim.

This invention relates to toy signaling devices and its general object is to provide a tower type signaling device that is primarily designed for use with toy or model railways of the gauge or like small type.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrically illuminated signaling device including a tower of a size in proportion to that of a railway system of the 00 gauge, yet a regular size lamp bulb is used with the device, as the bulb is housed below the supporting surface of the tower, and the beam or light rays therefrom are directed through the tower and reflected therefrom adjacent its upper end.

Another object of the invention is to provide simplified means for selectively changing the color of the beam for signaling purposes.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted'to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of thi specification:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention in applied position.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the device showing the means for changing the color of the light beam.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device with the lid removed to expose the receptacle and the beam color changing means.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the signaling device is shown as being secured to suitable supporting means A which may be a platform or the like having the railway tracks laid thereon, but in any event the device is disposed adjacent the tracks for signaling purposes, as will be apparent. A base plate and closure lid I0, provided with an upstanding hub I I, overlies a cavity or pit B in the supporting means A, and is secured flush with the upper surface of the supporting means by screws I2, as best shown in Figure 2. A receptacle I3 of substantially rectangular contour is suspended from the lid II] by outwardly bent flanges I4 which are secured to the under side of the lid by screws I5. The flanges are. provided with downwardly extending apertured lugs I6 paralleling the end walls of the receptacle. A lamp socket I1 is secured to and extends upwardly from the bottom of the receptacle and receives a lamp bulb I8 of a regular size that can be purchased in any store handling equipment of this character. The bulb is connected to a lamp circuit wire 6 from a source of electric current C controlled by a single pole switch I9. Solenoids 20 and 2| are mounted opposite each other between the lugs I6 and the end walls of the receptacle, and beneath the flanges I4. The solenoids are provided with bores which slidably receive respective cores 22 and '23 respectively, for slidable movement through the apertures of the lugs I6 and openings in the end walls of the receptacle, the cores being in the form of pins and having their confronting ends slotted transversely.

A screen frame 25 is secured at its opposite ends in the slotted ends of the cores and is provided with spaced distinctively colored transparent panels 8 and 9. The panels are slid into registration with an opening in the hub I I upon the selective energizing of the solenoids that have circuit wires 4 and 5 connected thereto and to the source of current, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The solenoid circuits are controlled by a double pole switch 26. A cylindrical lamp housing 21 is supported on the bottom of the receptacle and shades the lamp bulb [8. The housing is provided with a conical top I having an opening 2 at its apex through which a beam of light from the lamp bulb I8 is projected through a selected panel in the screen frame.

A tubular member 28 providing a signal tower is securely mounted within the opening of the hub and rises therefrom. A cylindrical casing 29 is secured to and extends transversely of the tower adjacent its upper end and communicates with the interior of the tower through an opening 30. The casing is provided with a lens 32 which forms one wall of the casing and is also provided with a reflector 3| secured therein at an angle to the lens and to overlie the opening 30 for reflecting light beams from the bulb I8 through the lens, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, from which it will be obvious that the color of the beam is changed, merely by shifting the panels 8 and 9.

The device may include structure simulating a ladder 33 supported on and rising from the base plate or lid III, with a landing platform 34 at the upper end thereof. The landing platform is pro vided with a guard railing 35 and the ladder is provided with brace means 36 secured thereto and to the tower, as clearly shown in Figure 2. A shield disk 31 may be secured to the casing 29 and a shade 38 for the lens 32 may be secured to the disk 31 to overlie the lens. The tower preferably extends above the casing 29 as shown, and a conical cap 39is secured to'the upper end of the extension 40. v

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawing, it is believedthat the use and operation of my device will be obvious, but it might be mentioned that when it is desired to operate the device, the light switch I9 is first closed and then the solenoid switch 26is thrown to one of its two positions to energize a desired solenoid to shift a predetermined panel laterally to intercept the beam of light from the lamp bulb l8 and color the beam. Preferably,the panels are colored red What is claimed is:

In a toy, a tubular signaling tower, a base plate for the tower and having an opening therein, said tower being secured within the opening and rising from the plate, a receptacle, flanges formed on and extending outwardly from opposite walls of the receptacle, said flanges being secured to the under face of the base plate for the latter to provide a lid for the receptacle, ears formed on and depending from the outer ends of the flanges in parallelism with said walls, a. lamp bulb mounted in the receptacle for passage of light rays therefrom into the tower, solenoids fitting and fixed between the ears and said walls of the receptacle, pins providing cores for the solenoids and slidably mounted through the ears and said walls, and j means including different colored panels secured to and bridging the pins for disposal between the lamp bulb and the lower end of the tower. 1 1

. ROBERT W. SUNDIUS. 

